LEGAL NEWSLINE

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas have announced the return of 263 apartments to rent stabilization and a reduction in rent for an additional 43 apartments across New York City. The affected units, located in Central Brooklyn, Upper Manhattan, and Queens, were previously deregulated or subjected to illegal rent increases by former owners affiliated with Sentinel Real Estate Corporation.

Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against an Indianapolis car dealer, alleging the dealer illegally rolled back odometers on vehicles sold to unsuspecting consumers who believed they were purchasing lower-mileage vehicles.

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Philadelphia County jury has convicted a man of all charges for the sexual abuse of a young child in 1998, when the defendant was a Jehovah’s Witness congregation member who utilized his position in the church to befriend the victim’s family.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has suspended a Cuyahoga County attorney for two years, with 18 months stayed, partly due to his felony conviction for using his client’s settlement funds to pay his own expenses.

New York – New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the death of Miguel Romero, who died on November 19, 2022, after an encounter with members of the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) in Uniondale. Following a thorough investigation, which included review of body-worn camera footage and security footage from a nearby business, interviews with involved officers, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer...

On September 16, 2024, the North Dakota Supreme Court announced the adoption of the State Board of Law Examiners' recommendation to administer a new exam known as the NextGen bar exam beginning in July 2027 for those seeking admission to practice law in North Dakota.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today the securing of a preliminary injunction against MV Realty, a Florida-based company accused of engaging in predatory practices. The injunction aims to protect nearly 1,500 homeowners who were allegedly misled into signing "Homeowner Benefit Agreements" that locked them into using MV Realty to sell their homes for 40 years or face a penalty of 3% of the home's value. Additionally, MV Realty placed illegal liens on these homes, charging homeowners the penalty to remove the lien.

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer delivered remarks on September 17, 2024, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. In his speech, Mizer highlighted the significant milestones achieved by the COPS Office over three decades.

Attorney General Mayes files amicus brief supporting Hualapai Tribe in water protection case

An important area for school safety planning that is often overlooked is school accessibility for students with disabilities. Accessibility barriers in public schools remain pervasive even decades after the passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which bars disability discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Some of these barriers pose significant problems for ensuring school safety for students with disabilities. For example, students who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters must...

The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced the allocation of over $600 million in grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders nationwide. This funding aims to support various initiatives, including hiring new officers, enhancing school safety, expanding mental health and wellness services for law enforcement, and combating drug distribution and trafficking.

A 39-year-old Hocking County woman was sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison for raping two children, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.

Attorney General William Tong released a statement concerning Meta’s introduction of new Instagram Teen Accounts. The accounts, aimed at users aged 13-17, will feature enhanced privacy measures, messaging restrictions, more restrictive content settings, a sleep mode, and break reminders. Teens will have the ability to select topics of interest while parents can view these choices. However, Meta will continue enabling "infinite scroll" and serving content through its algorithm.

When signing the Voting Rights Act in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson called on leaders to register voters and to use the courts if necessary to defend the right.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul issued a joint statement today in response to Instagram's announcement of changes for underage account holders, including adjustments to privacy settings and overnight notifications. The modifications follow New York’s legislation empowering the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to implement rules aimed at protecting children online and addressing addictive social media feeds.

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Attorney General Josh Kaul commenced a series of visits with recipients of the EMS Leave Behind Program, funded by state opioid settlement funds secured by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). The program enables EMS professionals to distribute overdose prevention tools and resources at the scene of care or after hospital transport to patients and their social networks.

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the arrest of a Monroe County man found with several pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine, illegal firearms, and 24 improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Richard Filbey, 62, of Ontonagon, pled guilty yesterday to one count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult of $100,000 or More and one count of Tax Fraud. The charges stem from his actions while serving as power of attorney for an elderly woman. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Filbey has agreed to pay more than $280,000 in restitution as part of the plea deal.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland delivered remarks on September 17, 2024, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). He began by acknowledging an ongoing FBI investigation into an apparent assassination attempt against a former official in Florida, emphasizing the Justice Department's commitment to thoroughly investigating the matter.

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) released its report on the death of Joel Capellan, who died on October 16, 2022, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. The investigation included a review of body-worn camera footage and security camera footage from nearby buildings, interviews with involved officers and witnesses, and comprehensive legal analysis. OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ actions were...